Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

There is provided an information processing apparatus including an image acquisition part configured to acquire an image captured by an imaging part, and a display controller configured to cause a virtual object to be displayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object shown in the image. The display controller controls the virtual object on a basis of a size of the real object in a real space.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2013-072689 filed Mar. 29, 2013, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus,an information processing method, and a recording medium.

A technology called augmented reality (AR) has recently been drawingattention, which shows a user a real space having additional informationsuperimposed thereover. The information shown to the user in the ARtechnology may be visualized using various forms of virtual objects suchas text, icons, or animation. The placement of annotation over an ARspace is generally executed on the basis of recognition inthree-dimensional structure in the real space shown in an image.

A structure from motion (SfM) technique and a simultaneous localizationand mapping (SLAM) technique are known as techniques for recognizing athree-dimensional structure in the real space. In the SfM technique,multiple images are captured from different viewpoints, and, from thoseimages, a three-dimensional structure in the real space shown in theimages is recognized using parallax. The SLAM technique is described inAndrew J. Davison, “Real-Time Simultaneous Localization and Mapping witha Single Camera”, Proceedings of the 9th IEEE International Conferenceon Computer Vision Volume 2, 2003, pp. 1403-1410. JP 2009-237845Adiscloses a technique for recognizing three-dimensional positions offeature points, which are selected for initialization in the SLAMtechnique, by using the SfM technique.

SUMMARY

A virtual object to be added to a real space may be generally controlledon the basis of a size of a real object in an image. However, the sizeof the real object in the image may change in accordance with a distancebetween an imaging part and the real object, and the like. Accordingly,it is difficult to say that the size of the real object in the realspace is sufficiently taken into account only by taking the size of thereal object in an image into account.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable in the present disclosure toprovide technology for making it possible to control the virtual objecttaking the size of the real object in the real space into account.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing apparatus which includes an image acquisitionpart configured to acquire an image captured by an imaging part, and adisplay controller configured to cause a virtual object to be displayedin accordance with a recognition result of a real object shown in theimage. The display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa size of the real object in a real space.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an information processing method which includes acquiring animage captured by an imaging part, causing a virtual object to bedisplayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object shownin the image, and controlling the virtual object on a basis of a size ofthe real object in a real space.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having aprogram recorded thereon, the program being for causing a computer tofunction as an information processing apparatus including an imageacquisition part configured to acquire an image captured by an imagingpart, and a display controller configured to cause a virtual object tobe displayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real objectshown in the image. The display controller controls the virtual objecton a basis of a size of the real object in a real space.

According to one or more of embodiments of the present disclosure, it ispossible to control the virtual object taking the size of the realobject in the real space into account.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an informationprocessing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of theinformation processing apparatus according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique forrecognizing a real object from an image captured by an imaging part;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a case where two types of real objectseach having a different size in a real space are recognized;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of selecting a virtual object onthe basis of a size of a real object in a real space;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a motion of avirtual object on the basis of a size of a real object in a real space;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a size of avirtual object in an image on the basis of a size of a real object in areal space;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of aninformation processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique forcalculating a size of a real object in a real space;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique forcalculating a size of a real object in a real space;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique forcalculating a size of a real object in a real space;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of controlling a virtualobject on the basis of a distance in a real space between a real objectand a floor surface;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a virtual objecton the basis of a relationship between a gravity direction and anattitude of a predetermined subject;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a virtual objecton the basis of a relationship between an attitude of a predeterminedsubject and an attitude of a floor surface;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of aninformation processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

Further, in this specification and the appended drawings, there are somecases where multiple structural elements that have substantially thesame function and structure are distinguished from one another by beingdenoted with different alphabets or numbers after the same referencenumeral. Note that, in the case where it is not necessary to distinguishthe multiple structural elements that have substantially the samefunction and structure from one another, the multiple structuralelements are denoted with the same reference numeral only.

Further, the “detailed description of the embodiments” will be describedin the following order.

1. Overview of information processing apparatus

2. First embodiment

-   -   2-1. Functional configuration example of information processing        apparatus    -   2-2. Technique for recognizing real object    -   2-3. Example of display control    -   2-4. Operation example of information processing apparatus

3. Second embodiment

-   -   3-1. Functional configuration example of information processing        apparatus    -   3-2. Size of real object in real space    -   3-3. Example of display control    -   3-4. Operation example of information processing apparatus

4. Hardware configuration example

5. Conclusion

1. OVERVIEW OF INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

First, an overview of an information processing apparatus 10 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 isa diagram illustrating an overview of the information processingapparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the information processing apparatus10 held by a user Ua. The information processing apparatus 10 includesan imaging part 120, which is directed towards a real space E, anoperation part 140, and a display part 160. The imaging part 120generates an image by capturing the real space E.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the display part 160 displays an imageIm captured by the imaging part 120. The user Ua is capable of graspingthe real space E by placing a viewpoint on the image Im displayed by thedisplay part 160. However, the image Im may not necessarily be displayedon the display part 160. For example, in the case where the display part160 is a transmissive head mounted display (HMD), the display part 160does not display the image Im, and the user Ua may place the viewpointdirectly on the real space E instead of the image Im.

Further, a real object A is shown in the image Im. For example, when thereal object A is recognized from the image Im, the informationprocessing apparatus 10 places a virtual object in an AR spacecorresponding to the real space E on the basis of the recognition resultof the real object A. In this way, the user Ua can view the virtualobject placed in the AR space by the information processing apparatus 10via the display part 160. The real object A may be recognized by theinformation processing apparatus 10, or may be recognized by a device(for example, server) that is different from the information processingapparatus 10.

Here, a virtual object to be added to the real space E is generallycontrolled on the basis of the size of the real object A in the imageIm. However, the size of the real object A in the image Im may change inaccordance with a distance between the imaging part 120 and the realobject A. Accordingly, it is difficult to say that the size of the realobject A in the real space E is sufficiently taken into account only bytaking the size of the real object A in the image Im into account.

In light of the foregoing, the present disclosure proposes technologyfor making it possible to control the virtual object taking the size ofthe real object A in the real space E into account. In a firstembodiment of the present disclosure, description will be mainly made ofthe case where the size of the real object A in the real space E isknown, and, in a second embodiment of the present disclosure,description will be mainly made of the case where the size of the realobject A in the real space E is calculated.

Note that, although description below will be made as an example of thecase where the information processing apparatus 10 is employed as acamera-equipped smartphone, the information processing apparatus 10 mayalso be employed as a device other than a smartphone. For example, theinformation processing apparatus 10 may be employed as a video camera, adigital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer(PC), a mobile phone, a mobile music playback device, a mobile videoprocessing device, a mobile game console, a telescope, or a binocular.

Heretofore, an overview of the information processing apparatus 10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described.Next, the first embodiment of the present disclosure and the secondembodiment of the present disclosure will be described in the statedorder. Note that the functions of the information processing apparatus10 described in the first embodiment of the present disclosure and thefunctions of the information processing apparatus 10 described in thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure may be used in combination,or only some of the functions may be used in combination.

2. FIRST EMBODIMENT

Subsequently, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed.

[2-1. Functional Configuration Example of Information ProcessingApparatus]

First, a functional configuration example of an information processingapparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functionalconfiguration example of the information processing apparatus 10Aaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 10A includes a controller110, the imaging part 120, a sensor part 130, the operation part 140, astorage 150, and the display part 160.

The controller 110 corresponds to, for example, a processor such as acentral processing unit (CPU) or a digital signal processor (DSP). Thecontroller 110 exhibits various functions that the controller 110 has byexecuting a program stored in the storage 150 or another storage medium.The controller 110 has functional blocks such as an image acquisitionpart 111, an image recognition part 113, and a display controller 115.The functions of the respective functional blocks will be describedlater.

The imaging part 120 is a camera module that captures an image Im. Theimaging part 120 captures a real space E using an image sensor such as acharge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS), and generates an image Im. The image Im generated by the imagingpart 120 is output to the controller 110. Note that, although theimaging part 120 is provided in an integrated manner with theinformation processing apparatus 10A in the example shown in FIG. 2, theimaging part 120 may be provided separately from the informationprocessing apparatus 10A. For example, an imaging device connected tothe information processing apparatus 10A via wire or radio may be usedas the imaging part 120.

The sensor part 130 acquires sensor data. For example, the sensor part130 includes a 3-axis acceleration sensor. The 3-axis accelerationsensor measures gravitational acceleration applied to the imaging part120, and generates sensor data (acceleration data) that shows the sizeand the direction of the gravitational acceleration in three dimensions.Additionally, the sensor part 130 may include a geomagnetic sensor. Thegeomagnetic sensor generates sensor data (geomagnetic data) showing thedirection of geomagnetism of the imaging part 120 in a coordinatesystem. Further, the sensor part 130 may also include a positioningsensor (for example, global positioning system (GPS) sensor). Thepositioning sensor generates sensor data (positioning data) showing thelatitude and the longitude of the information processing apparatus 10Ain the real space. Note that, although the sensor part 130 is providedin an integrated manner with the information processing apparatus 10A inthe example shown in FIG. 2, the sensor part 130 may be providedseparately from the information processing apparatus 10A.

The operation part 140 detects an operation performed by a user andoutputs the operation to the controller 110. In the presentspecification, since a case is assumed where the operation part 140 isformed of a touch panel, the operation performed by the user correspondsto an operation of tapping the touch panel. However, the operation part140 may also be formed of hardware other than a touch panel (forexample, button). Note that, although the operation part 140 is providedin an integrated manner with the information processing apparatus 10A inthe example shown in FIG. 2, the operation part 140 may be providedseparately from the information processing apparatus 10A.

The storage 150 uses a recording medium such as semiconductor memory ora hard disk to store a program for causing the controller 110 tooperate. Further, for example, the storage 150 can also store varioustypes of data (for example, various types of sensor data and virtualobjects) used by the program. Note that, although the storage 150 isprovided in an integrated manner with the information processingapparatus 10A in the example shown in FIG. 2, the storage 150 may beprovided separately from information processing apparatus 10A.

The display part 160 displays various types of information in accordancewith the control performed by the display controller 115. For example,the display part 160 displays an image of an AR application generated bythe information processing apparatus 10A. The display part 160 is formedof, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organicelectroluminescence (EL) display device. Note that, although the displaypart 160 is provided in an integrated manner with the informationprocessing apparatus 10A in the example shown in FIG. 2, the displaypart 160 may be provided separately from the information processingapparatus 10A. For example, a display device connected to theinformation processing apparatus 10A via wire or radio may be used asthe display part 160.

Heretofore, a functional configuration example of the informationprocessing apparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure has been described.

[2-2. Technique for Recognizing Real Object]

First, a technique for recognizing a real object A will be described.FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a technique forrecognizing a real object A from an image Im captured by the imagingpart 120. Referring to FIG. 3, in an image Im captured by the imagingpart 120, there is shown a real object A. Further, the real object A isrecognized by the image recognition part 113, and a virtual objectassociated with the recognition result is placed in an AR spacecorresponding to the real space by the display controller 115.

In more detail, when the image recognition part 113 recognizes theposition and the attitude of the real object A, the display controller115 identifies the position of the virtual object in accordance with theposition of the real object A, also identifies the attitude of thevirtual object in accordance with the attitude of the real object A, andplaces the virtual object in accordance with the identified position andattitude. The relationship between the position of the real object A andthe position of the virtual object may be determined in advance.Further, the relationship between the attitude of the real object A andthe attitude of the virtual object may also be determined in advance.

For example, the image recognition part 113 checks a partial imageincluded in the image Im against patches of respective feature pointsincluded in feature data, and detects feature points included in theimage Im. In the case where the feature points belonging to the realobject A are detected in high density in a region within the image Im,the image recognition part 113 may recognize that the real object A isshown in the region. The image recognition part 113 may furtherrecognize the position and the attitude of the recognized real object Aon the basis of positional relationship between the detected featurepoints and three-dimensional shape data.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a block is disposed on the floorsurface, and a television apparatus serving as an example of the realobject A is placed on the block. However, the type of the real object Ais not particularly limited. Referring to FIG. 3, the size of the realobject A in the real space E is represented by a size Zar, and the sizeof the real object A in the image Im is represented by a size Zai. Notethat, although the height of the real object A is set as the size of thereal object A in the example shown in FIG. 3, the size of the realobject A may be a length of a part other than the height of the realobject A.

Here, when the user Ua holds the imaging part 120 over the real object Aand the image recognition part 113 recognizes the real object A, avirtual object associated with the recognition result is placed in theAR space corresponding to the real space E by the display controller115. In that case, for controlling the virtual object, it is the sizeZai of the real object A in the image Im that is generally taken intoaccount, not the size Zar of the real object A in the real space E.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a case where two types of real objectsA each having a different size in a real space E are recognized.Referring to FIG. 4, there is a real object A1 in a real space E1, thesize of the real object A1 in the real space E1 is represented by a sizeZar1, and the image recognition part 113 recognizes the size of the realobject A1 in an image Im10 as a size Zai1.

On the other hand, there is a real object A2 in a real space E2, thesize of the real space E2 in the real object A2 is represented by a sizeZar2, and the image recognition part 113 recognizes the size of the realobject A2 in an image Im20 as a size Zai2. For example, referring toFIG. 4, the size Zar1 of the real object A1 in the image Im10 is aboutthe same as the size Zar2 of the real object A2 in the image Im20.

However, in reality, the distance between the imaging part 120 and thereal object A1 is longer than the distance between the imaging part 120and the real object A2. Instead, the size Zar1 of the real object A1 inthe real space E1 is larger than the size Zar2 of the real object A2 inthe real space E2. In this way, the size of the real object A in thereal space E is usually not directly grasped only from the size of thereal object A in the image Im.

Accordingly, in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, theimage acquisition part 111 acquires an image Im captured by the imagingpart 120, and the display controller 115 causes a virtual object to bedisplayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object Ashown in the image Im. In that case, the display controller 115 controlsthe virtual object on the basis of the size of the real object A in thereal space E. According to such a configuration, it becomes possible tocontrol the virtual object taking the size of the real object A in thereal space E into account.

According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the displaycontroller 115 is capable of acquiring the size of the real object A inthe real space E. The size of the real object A in the real space E maybe registered in the storage 150 in advance, may be input by a userthrough the operation part 140, and may be received by another device.

[2-3. Example of Display Control]

Here, various techniques may be employed as a method for controlling avirtual object. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of selecting avirtual object on the basis of a size of a real object A in a real spaceE. First, with reference to FIG. 5, an example of selecting a virtualobject on the basis of the size of the real object A in the real space Ewill be described.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the same manner as the case shown in FIG. 4, asize of a real object A1 in a real space E1 is a size Zar1. The displaycontroller 115 may select a virtual object V11 having a sizecorresponding to the size Zar1 of the real object A1 in the real spaceE1. For example, the display controller 115 may select the virtualobject V11 in the case where the size Zar1 of the real object A1 in thereal space E1 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The virtual object V11is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 5, in the same manner as the caseshown in FIG. 4, a size of a real object A2 in a real space E2 is a sizeZar2. The display controller 115 may select a virtual object V21 havinga size corresponding to the size Zar2 of the real object A2 in the realspace E2. For example, the display controller 115 may select the virtualobject V21 in the case where the size Zar2 of the real object A2 in thereal space E2 is lower than a predetermined threshold. The virtualobject V21 is not particularly limited.

Heretofore, although an example for selecting a virtual object on thebasis of the size of the real object A in the real space E has beendescribed, the display controller 115 may also control a display mode ofthe virtual object in accordance with the size of the real object A inthe real space E. For example, the display controller 115 may control amotion of a virtual object in accordance with the size of the realobject A in the real space.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a motion of avirtual object on the basis of a size of a real object A in a real spaceE. With reference to FIG. 6, an example of controlling a motion of avirtual object on the basis of the size of the real object A in the realspace E will be described.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the same manner as the case shown in FIG. 4, asize of a real object A1 in a real space E1 is a size Zar1. The displaycontroller 115 may control a motion of a virtual object V12 on the basisof the size Zar1 of the real object A1 in the real space E1. Forexample, the display controller 115 may perform control such that thevirtual object V12 has a predetermined first motion in the case wherethe size Zar1 of the real object A1 in the real space E1 exceeds apredetermined threshold. The predetermined first motion is notparticularly limited, and corresponds to, in the example shown in FIG.6, the motion that the virtual object V12 pops out from the real objectA1.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 6, in the same manner as the caseshown in FIG. 4, a size of a real object A2 in a real space E2 is a sizeZar2. The display controller 115 may control a motion of a virtualobject V22 on the basis of the size Zar2 of the real object A2 in thereal space E2. For example, the display controller 115 may performcontrol such that the virtual object V22 has a predetermined secondmotion in the case where the size Zar2 of the real object A2 in the realspace E2 is lower than a predetermined threshold. The predeterminedsecond motion is not particularly limited, and corresponds to, in theexample shown in FIG. 6, the motion that the virtual object V22 stayswithin the real object A1.

Further, for example, the display controller 115 may also control a sizeof a virtual object in an image Im in accordance with a size of a realobject A in a real space E. For example, the display controller 115 maycontrol the size of the virtual object in the image Im such that, thelarger the size of the real object A in the real space E, the size ofthe virtual object in the image Im increases.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a size of avirtual object in an image Im on the basis of a size of a real object Ain a real space E. With reference to FIG. 7, an example of controllingthe size of the virtual object in the image Im on the basis of the sizeof the real object A in the real space E will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the same manner as the case shown in FIG. 4, asize of a real object A1 in a real space E1 is a size Zar1. In the samemanner as the case shown in FIG. 4, a size of a real object A2 in a realspace E2 is a size Zar2. Since the size Zar1 of the real object A1 inthe real space E1 is larger than the size Zar2 of the real object A2 inthe real space E2, the display controller 115 may render a size of avirtual object V13 in an image Im13 larger than a size of a virtualobject V23 in an image Im23.

Heretofore, there has been described an example of controlling a displaymode of the virtual object on the basis of the size of the real object Ain the real space E. Note that the display controller 115 is alsocapable of calculating a position of the real object A in the real spaceE on the basis of the size of the real object A in the real space E. Tobe specific, the display controller 115 may calculate the position ofthe real object A in the real space E on the basis of the position ofthe real object A in the image Im and a ratio of the size of the realobject A in the real space E to the size of the real object A in theimage Im.

The display controller 115 may control the virtual object on the basisof the thus calculated position of the real object A in the real spaceE. Alternatively, the display controller 115 is also capable ofcalculating a distance between the imaging part 120 and the real objectA on the basis of the position of the real object A in the real space E.Accordingly, the display controller 115 may also control the virtualobject on the basis of the distance between the imaging part 120 and thereal object A. The technique for controlling a virtual object may beperformed in the same manner as the case of controlling the virtualobject on the basis of the size of the real object A in the real space Eas described above.

[2-4. Operation Example of Information Processing Apparatus]

Next, there will be described an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus 10A according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a flowchartshowing an example of a flow of operations performed by the informationprocessing apparatus 10A according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure. First, the imaging part 120 captures an image, theimage acquisition part 111 acquires the image, and then the imagerecognition part 113 recognizes a real object A from the image acquiredby the image acquisition part 111 (S11). The display controller 115identifies a virtual object associated with the recognition result ofthe real object A (S12), and acquires the size of the real object A inthe real space E (S13).

Subsequently, the display controller 115 controls the virtual object onthe basis of the size of the real object A in the real space E (S14),and causes the virtual object to be displayed (S15). For example, in thecase where the image recognition part 113 recognizes the position andthe attitude of the real object A, the display controller 115 may causethe virtual object to be displayed at the position and in the attitudecorresponding to the recognized position and attitude.

Heretofore, there has been described an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus 10A according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

3. SECOND EMBODIMENT

Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, thedescription has been made of the case where the size of the real objectA in the real space E is known, and, in the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure, description will be mainly made of the case ofcalculating the size of the real object A in the real space E.

[3-1. Functional Configuration Example of Information ProcessingApparatus]

Next, a functional configuration example of an information processingapparatus 10B according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a functionalconfiguration example of the information processing apparatus 10Baccording to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shownin FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 10B includes acontroller 110, an imaging part 120, a sensor part 130, an operationpart 140, a storage 150, and a display part 160. The controller 110 hasfunctional blocks such as an image acquisition part 111, a sensor dataacquisition part 112, an image recognition part 113, an environmentrecognition part 114, and a display controller 115. The functions of therespective functional blocks will be described later.

[3-2. Size of Real Object in Real Space]

First, a technique for calculating a position of a real object A in areal space E will be described. FIGS. 10 to 12 are diagrams eachillustrating an example of a technique for calculating a size of a realobject A in a real space E. Referring to FIG. 10, a subject B isdisposed on a floor surface F. In FIG. 10, the size of the subject B inthe real space E is represented by a size Zbr, and the size Zbr of thesubject B in the real space E is known. Accordingly, the size Zbr of thesubject B in the real space E may be registered in the storage 150 inadvance, or may be input by a user Ua through the operation part 140.

Note that, although description will be mainly made of the case wherethe subject B is a package of a digital versatile disk (DVD), thesubject B may be a subject other than a package of DVD since the subjectB is merely an example of a predetermined subject. Further, althoughdescription will be mainly made below of the case where the subject B isdisposed on the floor surface F, the subject B is not necessarilydisposed on the floor surface F. In addition, even in the case where thesubject B is disposed on the floor surface F, the subject B may bedisposed on a plane other than the floor surface F since the floorsurface F is merely an example of a predetermined plane.

When a user Ua holds the imaging part 120 over the real space E, theimaging part 120 captures an image Im1, and the image recognition part113 recognizes the subject B from the image Im1. To be specific, theimage recognition part 113 recognizes a size Zbi of the subject B in theimage 1 ml, a position Pbi of the subject B in the image 1 ml, and anattitude Qbr of the subject B. The display controller 115 calculates aposition Pbr of the subject B in the real space E on the basis of thesize Zbr of the subject B in the real space E, the size Zbi of thesubject B in the image Im1, and the position Pbi of the subject B in theimage Im1.

The display controller 115 is capable of identifying a position Pfr ofthe floor surface F in the real space E and an attitude Qfr of the floorsurface F on the basis of the position Pbr of the subject B in the realspace E and the attitude Qbr of the subject B. For example, the displaycontroller 115 is capable of identifying the position Pbr of the subjectB in the real space E as the position Pfr of the floor surface F in thereal space E, and the attitude Qbr of the subject B as the attitude Qfrof the floor surface F.

Note that it is preferred that the fact that the position Pbr of thesubject B in the real space E has been identified be notified to theuser Ua. For example, the display controller 115 may cause the fact thatthe position Pbr of the subject B in the real space E has beenidentified to be displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the factthat the position Pbr of the subject B in the real space E has beenidentified is shown as a message M of “a subject whose size is known hasbeen recognized.” However, the fact that the position Pbr of the subjectB in the real space E has been identified is not limited to such anexample.

Next, there may be a case where the user Ua changes the position and theattitude of the imaging part 120 in order to cause the imaging part 120to capture the real object A. Accordingly, the display controller 115may track the position and the attitude of the imaging part 120, and, onthe basis of the tracking result, may track the position and theattitude of the subject B. The display controller 115 may track theposition and the attitude of the imaging part 120 in any technique, and,as shown in FIG. 11, for example, the display controller 115 may trackthe position and the attitude of the imaging part 120 on the basis of aresult of environment recognition performed by the environmentrecognition part 114.

As the environment recognition performed by the environment recognitionpart 114, calculation based on the SLAM technique can be used. Accordingto the calculation based on the SLAM technique, a three-dimensionalstructure of the real space E shown in an image captured by the imagingpart 120 and the position and the attitude of the imaging part 120 canbe recognized dynamically. For initialization of a state variable in theSLAM technique, there may be used the position Pbr of the subject B inthe real space E and the attitude Qbr of the subject B.

Next, the display controller 115 may calculate a position Par of thereal object A in the real space E on the basis of a recognition resultof the subject B recognized by the image recognition part 113, a resultof environment recognition performed by the environment recognition part114, and a recognition result of the real object A recognized by theimage recognition part 113. To be specific, in the case where the imagerecognition part 113 recognizes the real object A, the displaycontroller 115 may check feature points recognized by the imagerecognition part 113 against feature points obtained a result ofenvironment recognition, and may calculate, as a result of the matchingcheck, the position Par of the real object A in the real space E.

Further, the display controller 115 is also capable of calculating asize Zar of the real object A in the real space E on the basis of thethus calculated position Par of the real object A in the real space E, asize Zai of the real object A in an image Im3, and the position Pbr ofthe subject B in the real space E.

Heretofore, a technique for calculating the position of the real objectA in the real space E has been described.

[3-3. Example of Display Control]

Next, an example of controlling display of a virtual object will bedescribed. As described above, since a position and an attitude of afloor surface F are identified, the display controller 115 is capable ofcontrolling a virtual object on the basis of a distance in a real spaceE between a real object A and a floor surface F. FIG. 13 is a diagramillustrating an example of controlling a virtual object on the basis ofa distance in a real space E between a real object A and a floor surfaceF.

Referring to FIG. 13, the distance in a real space E1 between a realobject A1 and a floor surface F is represented by a distance Har1. Thedisplay controller 115 is capable of calculating the distance Har1 inthe real space E1 between the real object A1 and the floor surface F, onthe basis of a position Par of the real object A1 in the real space E1,and a position Pfr and an attitude Qfr of the floor surface F. Thedisplay controller 115 is capable of adjusting a virtual object V14having a size corresponding to the size of the real object A1 in thereal space E1 in accordance with the distance Har1.

For example, the display controller 115 is capable of moving theposition of the virtual object V14 having the size corresponding to thesize of the real object A1 in the real space E1 closer to the floorsurface F by the distance Har1 in the real space E1. In this way, asshown in FIG. 13, the display controller 115 is capable of performingnormally the placement of the virtual object V14, the normal state ofwhich is that the virtual object V14 is present in contact with thefloor surface F.

Further, referring to FIG. 13, the distance in a real space E2 between areal object A2 and the floor surface F is represented by a distanceHar2. The display controller 115 is capable of calculating the distanceHar2 in the real space E2 between the real object A2 and the floorsurface F, on the basis of a position Par2 of the real object A2 in thereal space E2, and a position Pfr and an attitude Qfr of the floorsurface F. The display controller 115 is capable of adjusting a virtualobject V24 having a size corresponding to the size of the real object A2in the real space E2 in accordance with the distance Har2.

For example, the display controller 115 is capable of moving theposition of the virtual object V24 having the size corresponding to thesize of the real object A2 in the real space E2 closer to the floorsurface F by the distance Har2 in the real space E2. In this way, asshown in FIG. 13, the display controller 115 is capable of performingnormally the placement of the virtual object V24, the normal state ofwhich is that the virtual object V24 is present in contact with thefloor surface F.

Note that, in the example shown in FIG. 13, the size of the virtualobject V14 in an image Im14 is controlled in accordance with the size ofthe real object A1 in the real space E1. In the same manner, in theexample shown in FIG. 13, the size of the virtual object V24 in an imageIm24 is controlled in accordance with the size of the real object A2 inthe real space E2. If a virtual object is placed in the real size in theAR space, it enables the user Ua to feel the size of the virtual objectmore realistically.

Accordingly, in order that the virtual object is placed in the real sizein the AR space, the display controller 115 may control the virtualobject on the basis of the size of the real object A in the real space Eand known data related to the real size of the virtual object. Forexample, the display controller 115 may identify the ratio of the sizeof the virtual object in the image to the size of the real object A inthe image, on the basis of the relationship between the size of the realobject A in the real space E and the known data related to the real sizeof the virtual object.

For example, the display controller 115 may perform control such that aratio of the known data related to the real size of the virtual objectto the size of the real object A in the real space E is equal to a ratioof the size of the virtual object in the image to the size of the realobject A in the image. In this way, since the virtual object V14 placedin the real space E1 and the virtual object V24 placed in the real spaceE2 each have the real size of the virtual object, it enables the user Uato feel the size of the virtual object more realistically.

Further, the display controller 115 may control the virtual object onthe basis of a tilt of an object. For example, in the case where thesensor part 130 is capable of detecting a gravity direction G, thedisplay controller 115 may control the virtual object on the basis ofthe relationship between the gravity direction G detected by the sensorpart 130 and the object. For example, the gravity direction G can bedetected by an acceleration sensor or the like. The gravity direction Gdetected by the sensor part 130 may be acquired by the sensor dataacquisition part 112.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a virtual objecton the basis of a relationship between the gravity direction G and theattitude of the subject B. The display controller 115 is capable ofcontrolling the virtual object on the basis of the relationship betweenthe gravity direction G and the attitude of the subject B.

Referring to FIG. 14, in a real space E30, the subject B having anattitude that matches the gravity direction G is disposed on the floorsurface F. In such a case, a virtual object V30 associated with therecognition result of the real object A can be placed on the floorsurface F. On the other hand, in a real space E31, the subject B havingan attitude that does not match the gravity direction G is disposed onthe floor surface F. In such a case, a virtual object V31 associatedwith the recognition result of the real object A can be placed on thefloor surface F.

In FIG. 14, the display controller 115 places, in the AR space, thevirtual object V30 indicating a state in which the attitude of thevirtual object V30 stands still with respect to the floor surface F inthe case where the attitude of the subject B matches the gravitydirection G. On the other hand, the display controller 115 places, inthe AR space, the virtual object V31 indicating a state in which thevirtual object V31 slides on the floor surface F in the case where theattitude of the subject B does not match the gravity direction G.However, the virtual object V30 and the virtual object V31 may each becontrolled in any way.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of controlling a virtual objecton the basis of a relationship between the gravity direction G and theattitude of the real object A. The display controller 115 is alsocapable of controlling the virtual object on the basis of therelationship between the gravity direction G and the attitude of thereal object A.

Referring to FIG. 15, in the real space E30, the real object A having anattitude that matches the gravity direction G is disposed on the floorsurface F. In such a case, the virtual object V30 associated with therecognition result of the real object A can be placed on the floorsurface F. On the other hand, in a real space E32, the real object Ahaving an attitude that does not match the gravity direction G isdisposed on the floor surface F. In such a case, a virtual object V32associated with the recognition result of the real object A can beplaced on the floor surface F.

In FIG. 15, the display controller 115 places, in the AR space, thevirtual object V30 indicating a state in which the attitude of thevirtual object V30 stands still with respect to the floor surface F inthe case where the attitude of the real object A matches the gravitydirection G. On the other hand, the display controller 115 places, inthe AR space, the virtual object V32 indicating a state in which thevirtual object V32 slides on the floor surface F in the case where theattitude of the real object A does not match the gravity direction G.However, the virtual object V30 and the virtual object V32 may each becontrolled in any way.

In addition, the display controller 115 may control the virtual objecton the basis of a relationship between the attitude of the floor surfaceF and the attitude of the real object A. In the same manner as in thecase shown in FIG. 15, the display controller 115 may place, in the ARspace, the virtual object V30 indicating a state in which the attitudeof the virtual object V30 stands still with respect to the floor surfaceF in the case where the attitude of the real object A matches theattitude of the floor surface F. On the other hand, the displaycontroller 115 places, in the AR space, the virtual object V32indicating a state in which the virtual object V32 slides on the floorsurface F in the case where the attitude of the real object A does notmatch the attitude of the floor surface F. However, the virtual objectV30 and the virtual object V32 may each be controlled in any way.

[3-4. Operation Example of Information Processing Apparatus]

Next, there will be described an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus 10B according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a flowchartshowing an example of a flow of operations performed by the informationprocessing apparatus 10B according to the second embodiment of thepresent disclosure. First, when the imaging part 120 captures an imageand the image acquisition part 111 acquires the image, the imagerecognition part 113 recognizes a subject B from the image acquired bythe image acquisition part 111 (S21). The display controller 115identifies a position Pbr of the subject B in a real space E (S22), andthe environment recognition part 114 starts environment recognition(S23).

Subsequently, the image recognition part 113 recognizes a real object Afrom the image acquired by the image acquisition part 111 (S24). Thedisplay controller 115 identifies a virtual object associated with therecognition result of the real object A (S25), and calculates a positionPar of the real object A in the real space E (S26). In addition, thedisplay controller 115 calculates a size Zar of the real object A in thereal space E (S27), controls the virtual object on the basis of the sizeZar of the real object A in the real space E (S28), and causes thevirtual object to be displayed (S29).

Heretofore, there has been described an example of a flow of operationsperformed by the information processing apparatus 10B according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure.

4. HARDWARE CONFIGURATION EXAMPLE

Next, a hardware configuration example of the information processingapparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure willbe described. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a hardware configurationexample of the information processing apparatus 10 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. It should be noted that thehardware configuration example shown in FIG. 17 is merely an example ofa hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 10.Accordingly, the hardware configuration of the information processingapparatus 10 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 17, the information processing apparatus 10 includes acentral processing unit (CPU) 801, read only memory (ROM) 802, randomaccess memory (RAM) 803, a sensor 804, an input device 808, an outputdevice 810, a storage device 811, a drive 812, an imaging device 813,and a communication device 815.

The CPU 801 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a controlunit, and controls entire operation of the information processingapparatus 10 in accordance with various programs. Further, the CPU 801may be a microprocessor. The ROM 802 stores a program, a calculationparameter, and the like used by the CPU 801. The RAM 803 temporarilystores a program used in execution of the CPU 801, a parameter varyingas appropriate during the execution, and the like. The CPU 801, the ROM802, and the RAM 803 are connected with each other via the host busconfigured from a CPU bus or the like.

The sensor 804 includes various types of detection sensors such as aterminal state detection sensor for detecting states of the informationprocessing apparatus 10, and a peripheral circuit thereof. Examples ofthe sensor 804 include a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, anorientation sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a lightintensity sensor. A detection signal obtained by the sensor 804 istransmitted to the CPU 801. In this way, the CPU 801 can know the states(tilt, acceleration, orientation, temperature, humidity, lightintensity, and the like) of the information processing apparatus 10.

The input device 808 is configured from, for example, an input part forinputting information by a user, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touchpanel, a button, a microphone, a switch, and a lever, and an inputcontrol circuit which generates an input signal based on the input bythe user and outputs the generated input signal to the CPU 801. The userof the information processing apparatus 10 can input various kinds ofdata to the information processing apparatus 10 and can instruct theinformation processing apparatus 10 to perform a processing operation byoperating the input device 808.

The output device 810 includes, for example, display devices such as aliquid crystal display (LCD) device, an organic light emitting diode(OLED) device, and a lamp. Further, the output device 810 includes audiooutput devices such as a speaker and headphones. For example, thedisplay devices each display a captured image, a generated image, andthe like. On the other hand, the audio output devices each convert audiodata and the like into audio and output the audio.

The storage device 811 is a device for storing data, which is configuredas an example of a storage of the information processing apparatus 10.The storage device 811 may include, for example, a storage medium, arecording device for recording data in the storage medium, a readingdevice for reading out the data from the storage medium, and a deletiondevice for deleting the data recorded in the storage medium. The storagedevice 811 stores a program and various data executed by the CPU 801.

The drive 812 is a reader/writer for the storage medium and is built inor externally attached to information processing apparatus 10. The drive812 reads out information recorded in a removable storage medium 71which is mounted thereto, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, amagneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, and outputs theinformation to the RAM 803. Further, the drive 812 can also writeinformation in the removable storage medium 71.

The imaging device 813 includes an imaging optical system, such as ashooting lens and a zoom lens for focusing light, and a signalconversion device, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or acomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The imaging opticalsystem focuses light emitted from a subject and forms an image of thesubject on a signal conversion part, and the signal conversion deviceconverts the formed image of the subject into an electrical imagesignal.

The communication device 815 is a communication interface which isconfigured from, for example, a communication device for establishing aconnection with a network. In addition, the communication device 815 maybe a wireless local area network (LAN) enabled communication device, along term evolution (LTE) enabled communication device, or a wiredcommunication device for performing wired communication. Thecommunication device 815 can communicate with other devices via anetwork 30.

Heretofore, a hardware configuration example of the informationprocessing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure has been described.

5. CONCLUSION

As described above, according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, there is provided the information processing apparatus 10including the image acquisition part 111 configured to acquire an imageIm captured by the imaging part 120, and the display controller 115configured to cause a virtual object to be displayed in accordance witha recognition result of a real object A shown in the image Im, whereinthe display controller 115 controls the virtual object on the basis of asize Zar of the real object A in the real space E. According to such aconfiguration, it becomes possible to control the virtual object takinginto account the size of the real object A in the real space E.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, the display part described above may be a head mounteddisplay (HMD). For example, in the case where a non-transmissive HMD isused as the display part, the image is not necessarily displayed on thedisplay part. In such a case, the display part may superimpose thevirtual object over the real space, not over the image.

Further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the description hasbeen mainly made of the example that the result of controlling thevirtual object by the information processing apparatus 10 is reflectedin the AR space of the information processing apparatus 10. However, forexample, in the case where a single AR space is shared between theinformation processing apparatus 10 and other devices, the result ofcontrolling the virtual object by the information processing apparatus10 may be reflected in the AR space of the other devices which arecommunicable with the information processing apparatus 10.

Further, it is also possible to create a program for causing hardwaresuch as a CPU, ROM, and RAM, which are built in a computer, to exhibitsubstantially the same functions as those of respective structures ofthe information processing apparatus 10 described above. Further, thereis also provided a non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumhaving the program recorded thereon.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1) An information processing apparatus including:

an image acquisition part configured to acquire an image captured by animaging part; and

a display controller configured to cause a virtual object to bedisplayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object shownin the image,

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa size of the real object in a real space.

(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1),

wherein the display controller calculates the size of the real object inthe real space on a basis of a position of a predetermined subject inthe real space, a size of the real object in the image, and a positionof the real object in the real space, the position of the predeterminedsubject in the real space being identified in accordance with known datarelated to a size of the predetermined subject in the real space, a sizeof the predetermined subject in the image, and a position of thepredetermined subject in the image.

(3) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa distance in the real space between the real object and a predeterminedplane.

(4) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa relationship between a gravity direction and an attitude of thepredetermined subject.

(5) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa relationship between a gravity direction and an attitude of the realobject.

(6) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa relationship between an attitude of a predetermined plane and anattitude of the real object.

(7) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (3) to(6),

wherein, when the predetermined subject is disposed on the predeterminedplane, the display controller identifies a position and an attitude ofthe predetermined plane in the real space on a basis of a position andan attitude of the predetermined subject in the real space.

(8) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller causes a fact that the position of thepredetermined subject in the real space has been identified to bedisplayed.

(9) The information processing apparatus according to (1),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa position of the real object in the real space.

(10) The information processing apparatus according to (1),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa distance between the imaging part and the real object.

(11) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(10),

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofthe size of the real object in the real space and known data related toa real size of the virtual object.

(12) The information processing apparatus according to (11),

wherein the display controller identifies a ratio of a size of thevirtual object in the image to a size of the real object in the image ona basis of a relationship between the size of the real object in thereal space and the known data related to the real size of the virtualobject.

(13) The information processing apparatus according to (1),

wherein the display controller acquires the size of the real object inthe real space.

(14) The information processing apparatus according to (2),

wherein the display controller calculates the position of the realobject in the real space on a basis of a recognition result of thepredetermined subject, a result of environment recognition, and arecognition result of the real object.

(15) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(14),

wherein the display controller selects the virtual object on a basis ofthe size of the real object in the real space.

(16) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to(14),

wherein the display controller controls a display mode of the virtualobject in accordance with the size of the real object in the real space.

(17) The information processing apparatus according to (16),

wherein the display controller controls a motion of the virtual objectin accordance with the size of the real object in the real space.

(18) The information processing apparatus according to (16),

wherein the display controller controls a size of the virtual object inthe image in accordance with the size of the real object in the realspace.

(19) An information processing method including:

acquiring an image captured by an imaging part;

causing a virtual object to be displayed in accordance with arecognition result of a real object shown in the image; and

controlling the virtual object on a basis of a size of the real objectin a real space.

(20) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having aprogram recorded thereon, the program being for causing a computer tofunction as an information processing apparatus including

an image acquisition part configured to acquire an image captured by animaging part, and

a display controller configured to cause a virtual object to bedisplayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object shownin the image,

wherein the display controller controls the virtual object on a basis ofa size of the real object in a real space.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:an imaging part configured to capture an image; an image acquisitionpart configured to acquire the captured image; an environmentrecognizing part configured to recognize a three-dimensional spacestructure of a real space based on the acquired image and generate afirst recognition result; and a display controller configured to causedisplay of a virtual object based on a second recognition result of areal object shown in the acquired image, wherein the display controlleris configured to: check feature point recognized from the firstrecognition result by the environment recognizing part against featurepoints of the second recognition result; calculate a position of thereal object in the real space based on the check; calculate a size ofthe real object in the real space based on the calculated position ofthe real object in the real space, and control the virtual object basedon the calculated size of the real object in the real space.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay controller is further configured to calculate the size of thereal object in the real space based on: a position of a subject in thereal space, and a size of the real object in the acquired image.
 3. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplay controller is further configured to control the virtual objectbased on a relationship between a gravity direction and an attitude ofthe subject.
 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim2, wherein the display controller is further configured to control thevirtual object based on a relationship between an attitude of adetermined plane and an attitude of the real object.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displaycontroller is further configured to display the position of the subjectin the real space as identified.
 6. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the display controller is furtherconfigured to calculate the position of the real object in the realspace based on a third recognition result of the subject, the firstrecognition result of the environment recognizing part, and the secondrecognition result of the real object.
 7. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display controller isfurther configured to control the virtual object based on a distance inthe real space between the real object and a determined plane.
 8. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, thedisplay controller is configured to identify a position and an attitudeof the determined plane in the real space based on a position and anattitude of the subject in the real space if the subject is disposed onthe determined plane.
 9. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the display controller is further configured tocontrol the virtual object based on a relationship between a gravitydirection and an attitude of the real object.
 10. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaycontroller is configured to control the virtual object based on theposition of the real object in the real space, wherein the position ofthe subject in the real space is identified based on known data relatedto a size of the subject in the real space, a size of the subject in theimage, and a position of the subject in the image.
 11. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaycontroller is further configured to control the virtual object based ona distance between the imaging part and the real object.
 12. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay controller is further configured to control the virtual objectbased on known data related to a real size of the virtual object. 13.The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thedisplay controller is further configured to identify a ratio of a sizeof the virtual object in the acquired image to a size of the real objectin the acquired image based on a relationship between the size of thereal object in the real space and the known data related to the realsize of the virtual object.
 14. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display controller is furtherconfigured to select the virtual object based on the size of the realobject in the real space.
 15. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display controller is furtherconfigured to control a display mode of the virtual object based on thesize of the real object in the real space.
 16. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the displaycontroller is further configured to control a size of the virtual objectin the acquired image based on the size of the real object in the realspace.
 17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the display controller is further configured to control a motionof the virtual object based on the size of the real object in the realspace.
 18. An information processing method, comprising: capturing animage; acquiring the captured image; recognizing a three-dimensionalspace structure of a real space based on the acquired image andgenerating a first recognition result; causing displaying of a virtualobject based on a second recognition result of a real object shown inthe acquired image; checking feature points recognized from the firstrecognition result against feature points of the second recognitionresult; calculating a position of the real object in the real spacebased on the checking; calculating a size of the real object in the realspace based on the calculated position of the real object in the realspace, and controlling the virtual object based on the calculated sizeof the real object in the real space.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having stored thereoncomputer-executable instructions for causing a computer to executeoperations, the operations comprising: capturing an image; acquiring thecaptured image; recognizing a three-dimensional space structure of areal space based on the acquired image and generating a firstrecognition result; displaying a virtual object based on a secondrecognition result of a real object shown in the acquired image;checking feature points recognized from the first recognition resultagainst feature points of the second recognition result; calculating aposition of the real object in the real space based on the checking;calculating a size of the real object in the real space based on thecalculated position of the real object in the real space, andcontrolling the virtual object based on the calculated size of the realobject in the real space.